CA Drought Foundation Problems

This blog post was written by Bay Area Underpinning. We are a Vallejo-based foundation repair company that serves the Bay Area of California. We use ECP (Earth Contact Products). Our family-operated company, owned by Steve Egloff, consists of a team of a professional team of trained foundation repair experts licensed in the state of California. Bay Area Underpinning specializes in steel pier installation for the stabilization of foundations in both residential and commercial applications throughout the state of California.

Recently, the drought in California has been causing several major issues for those who live there. What residents of California may not be aware of is that the dry conditions in the state may also be the cause of serious foundation problems.

The lack of rainfall leads to a low moisture level in the soil. As the soil around your home dries out, it can start to shrink. This soil shrinkage may eventually form voids and gaps beneath your foundation, as the shrinking soil shifts and starts to fall away. Voids beneath your foundation are not good - any spaces under the concrete reduce the structural integrity of the foundation. This means that the foundation can start sinking and settling.

If you are worried about foundation sinking due to the drought in your California home, look for the following symptoms of failure: foundation cracks, cracks in the drywall or ceiling, sloped or uneven floors, bowing or leaning walls, and water leakage in home. These are all signs that your foundation could be sinking and is in need of repair from the experts at Bay Area Underpinning.

Solutions to Drought-Related Foundation Issues in California

Our foundation lifting techniques involve a variety of piering options using the high-quality steel products from ECP. Some of these solutions that we offer to lift and stabilize settling foundations include:

Resistance Piers - These piers are strong and deep-driving making them a good choice even for large buildings and heavy foundations.

Steel Push Piers -Push piers are a common foundation repair device that utilizes a two-step system to get below the active soil and stabilize homes.

Helical Piers - These piers are screwed into the ground for more stability and are ideal for applications where resistance to tension or compressive force is needed.

Slab Piers - Used mechanically or hydraulically and are an economical choice for homeowners with sinking slab foundations.

All of these repair options from ECP help to stabilize your foundation and prevent the drought from causing foundation failure in the future. If you have a sinking foundation in California due to the drought, underpinning with ECP products can help.